Ballymoney’s music man Jonny takes up the baton

They say that if you want something done, ask a busy man - and that’s exactly what a local musical theatre group did when they came knocking on the door of a talented Ballymoney man.

Jonny Boyd has taken up the baton as Musical Director with Portrush Music Society for their forthcoming production of Andrew Lloyd Webbber and Tim Rice’s rock opera Evita.

A Music Lecturer at the Ballymoney campus of the Northern Regional College, Jonny first became involved with the award-winning Portrush Music Society last year.

“I was invited to do their concert in November 2014 and when the position of MD opened for Evita, I couldn’t say no!” said Jonny who is also currently rehearsing with NRC for a production of Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods’.

Jonny has been tasked with not only working with the principal actors in the show who play Eva (Donelle Reynolds and Fiona Flynn), Juan Peron (Harry Coates), Che (Adam Goudy) and Magaldi (Andy Shaw) but also the 40-strong cast of chorus members (including children) who play a range of characters including peasants, workers, soldiers, voters, mourners and aristocrats.

As a rock opera, Evita opens with a few lines of spoken word, thereafter the entire show is sung from start to finish - quite an undertaking for any cast.

“Evita is a fantastic musical, one of the best from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice,” said Jonny.

“I knew it would be a challenge but I also knew PMS could tackle it,” he added.

Evita the musical is a celebration of the life that Eva lived and all she achieved for herself and the people of Argentina – this quite simply is the story of an inspirational and inspiring lady.

The musical is iconic worldwide and features some of the best known songs in musical theatre including ‘Don’t Cry For Me Argentina’, ‘Oh What a Circus’ and ‘Another Suitcase in Another Hall’.

Evita runs at the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine from Friday 24th April until Saturday 2nd May with matinees on both Saturdays. Tickets: www.riversidetheatre.org.uk or ing call 028 70 123 123.

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